Tommy Breen

Tommy Breen
Personal information
Full name Thomas Breen
Date of birth (1912-04-27)27 April 1912
Place of birth Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
Date of death (1988-03-01)1 March 1988
Playing position Goalkeeper
Youth career
192? Drogheda Commercials
192? Drogheda United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1929–1932 Newry Town ? (?)
1932–1937 Belfast Celtic ? (?)
1937–1939 Manchester United 65 (0)
1939–1944 Belfast Celtic ? (?)
1944–1946 Linfield ? (?)
1946–1947 Shamrock Rovers 11 (0)
1947–1948 Glentoran 14 (0)
National team
1935–1946 Ireland (IFA) 13 (0)
1937–1947 Ireland (FAI) 5 (0)
1932–1946 Irish League XI 8 (0)
1946–1947 League of Ireland XI 3 (0)
1935 Ireland/Wales XI 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Tommy Breen (27 April 1912 – 1 March 1988) was an Irish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for, among others, Belfast Celtic, Manchester United, Linfield and Shamrock Rovers. Breen was a dual international and played for both Ireland teams: the IFA XI and the FAI XI.

Breen replaced Elisha Scott as first-choice goalkeeper for both Belfast Celtic and the IFA XI and was rated by Billy Behan, one of his predecessors at Manchester United and a renowned scout, as one of the best goalkeepers Ireland ever produced. He was also the first Manchester United player ever to play for an FAI XI. During his career, Breen was involved in several controversies; in November 1937, he turned down the chance to play for the FAI XI in a 1938 World Cup qualifier to play for the IFA XI in the 1938 British Home Championship. Then, in 1944, he transferred from Belfast Celtic to their rivals Linfield after a financial dispute.

Sources

  • The Boys in Green – The FAI International Story (1997): Sean Ryan
  • Soccer at War – 1939 – 45 (2005): Jack Rollin
  • DUFC A Claret and Blue History by Brian Whelan (2010)
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